Nostalgia meets Avantgarde: Immerse yourself into the 1990s with Stefan Kokovic
Credit Note: All images are owned by Stefan Kokovic.
The 27th of September marked a dual celebration: Stefan Kokovic’s Birthday as well as his 10th fashion Photography exhibition. Stefan Kokovic is an internationally well known photographer who has had his work featured in renowned magazines such as Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar und Elle. Awarded with the ‘Best Fashion Photographer 2013’ in Serbia and ‘Photographer of the Year 2022’ at the Vienna Fashion Awards, Kokovic is one of the most sought-after fashion photographers in Austria. In collaboration with the leading Austrian modeling agency Addicted to Models, Kokovic’s ‘1990‘ exhibition transported visitors back to an era of style, creativity, and timeless elegance.
It was evening full of glamour, fashion and unforgettable moments. Kokovic’s works, inspired by the legendary supermodels and photographers of the era, revived the creative spirit of the 90s. Among the invited guests were celebrities such as top model Nadine Mirada, Count Basic mastermind Peter Legat with wife Daniela, GNTM 2022 winner Lou-Anne Gleissenebner with mum and GNTM 2022 finalist Martina Gleissenebner-Teskey – both dressed in Callisti. Designer Martina Callisti was also there in person. Other guests included former ORF lady Cathy Zimmermann, influencer Kerstin Zacharias, drag duo Pandora Nox and Liam Choclit, designer Nicolas Dudek, professional dancer Herby Stanonik, Miss Austria Lucia Sisic and many more. They were all deeply impressed by Kokovic’s unique paintings and celebrated the special magic of the 90s together with the artist until the early hours of the morning.
‘The 90s were a turning point in fashion. This exhibition is my love letter to that era! After a rather bumpy and difficult year for me, this evening feels like the culmination of everything I’ve been working on for so long,’ says Kokovic.
Q&A Session with Artist Stefan Kokovic
What was it about the 90s that fascinated you so much that you wanted to dedicate an entire exhibition to the decade?
Stefan Kokovic: „What really inspired me about the 90s was not so much pop culture or grunge, but rather the world of high-end fashion that was celebrated in the iconic magazines of the time, such as Vogue. The era of supermodels like Linda Evangelist – after whom the project was even dubbed ‘Project Linda’ on social media during the production period – had an elegance and simplicity in fashion that I find simply mesmerizing. It was a time when great designers were creating minimalist yet powerful looks. This combination of simplicity and high fashion was the starting point for the ‘1990’ exhibition.“
Did you use certain techniques from the 90s in the photos for this exhibition in order to preserve the authentic look of this era?
Stefan Kokovic: „It wasn’t my intention to reproduce the technology of the 90s as a final result, but in post-production we worked on reviving the look of analogue photography from that time. An exciting detail is that all the behind-the-scenes images were shot with an analogue camera and the making-of video was shot with an original 90s camcorder. This allowed us to lend a certain authenticity not only to the final images, but also to the entire creation process.“
This exhibition marks your tenth exhibition. How has your style and creative process developed in recent years?
Stefan Kokovic: „I believe that I have developed a lot as an artist in recent years, but I am convinced that the learning process never stops. ‘You never stop learning’, and that’s the exciting aspect of creativity for me. There is always room to take on new challenges, discover new techniques and develop artistically. This constant change keeps the creative process alive.“
What projects are coming up next? Are you planning to continue doing retrospective exhibitions or do you already have new themes in mind?
Stefan Kokovic: „I am surprised myself by the enormous response that the ‘1990’ project has received. It has already achieved an ‘iconic’ status in the Austrian fashion scene. Of course, my team and I are already in talks about new projects. Who knows, maybe there will be a sequel to this story – you’ll be surprised! But I’m also keen to explore new themes and I’m excited to see where the journey takes us.“
The guests ensured their evening attire beautifully complemented the exhibition, and they certainly did not disappoint! Multiple models showcased impressive haute couture creations from emerging designers such as Nicolas Dudek, Moulham Obid, David Vesely, and Jennifer Milleder. Their designs effortlessly blended 90s style with modern influences, making them the standout fashion highlights of the night. Additionally, the ‘1990’ exhibition remained open to visitors throughout the weekend, allowing accessibility to the public and providing art enthusiasts with the opportunity to experience the striking photographs up close and purchase select works from the artist. If you’re interested, you can still explore the collection at www.stefankokovic.com.
